Thermal printer and ink ribbon used therewith

Abstract

A gradation correction data used in correcting the gradation of the printed image is recorded on the leader film of the ink ribbon in a form of optically readable marks. Then the ink ribbon is set in a thermal printer, the marks are read out by an optical sensor to obtain the gradation correction data. Then, the gradation correction of the image data to be printed is carried out by referring to the correction data thus obtained prior to the actual printing of the image data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermal printer to be used in combination with an ink ribbon comprising a mark of manufacturing information comprising: a detection unit for reading the mark of manufacturing information recorded on the ink ribbon and outputting a read-out signal;   a reproduction unit for receiving the read-out signal and reproducing manufacturing information;   a storage unit for temporarily storing the manufacturing information;   a memory for storing a plurality of gradation correction data in association with a plurality of manufacturing information;   an operation unit for obtaining one of the gradation correction data corresponding to the manufacturing information reproduced by the reproducing unit and for performing gradation correction of image data to be printed based on the obtained gradation correction data; and   a printing unit for printing the image data corrected by said operation unit.   
     
     
       2. A printing system comprising a sublimation transfer type thermal printer and an ink ribbon for use with said printer, said ink ribbon comprising: an ink ribbon portions which are coated with color ink, and   an area for recording a mark indicating one of a plurality of manufacturing information, said printer comprising: a detection unit for reading the mark of manufacturing information recorded on said ink ribbon during the transfer movement of the ink ribbon and outputting a read-out signal;   a reproduction unit for receiving the read-out signal and reproducing manufacturing information;   a storage unit for temporarily storing the manufacturing information;   a memory for storing a plurality of gradation correction data in corresponding to the manufacturing information reproduce by the reproducing unit and for performing gradation correction of image data to be printed based on the obtained gradation correction data; and     an operation unit for obtaining one of the gradation correction data corresponding to the manufacturing information reproduced by the reproducing unit and for performing gradation correction of image data to be printed based on the obtained gradation data; and   a printing unit for printing the image data corrected by said operation unit.